Space shuttle Endeavour touches down for the final time

The space shuttle Endeavour and its six astronauts returned to Earth on Wednesday, closing out the next-to-last mission in NASA's 30-year program with a safe middle-of-the-night landing.

Craig Bailey / AFP - Getty Images

US space shuttle Endeavour comes in to land at Kennedy Space Center on June 1. Endeavour landed safely at Kennedy Space Center, wrapping up its final mission to space before becoming the next to last US shuttle to retire. "It is sad to see her land for the last time, but she really has a great legacy," said shuttle commander Mark Kelly moments after landing the youngest ship in the US fleet, ending its 25th journey to space.

Bill Ingalls / NASA via AP

Space Shuttle Endeavour making its final landing at the Shuttle Landing Facility at the Kennedy Space Center on June 1.